Schalke 04: Amine Harit’s supporting cast is on the way

Amine Hari is Schalke 04’s gem, but they need to support him better. Thankfully, that supporting cast is moving on down the assembly line.

The Revierderby gave Schalke plenty to think about, but the most obvious, glaring issue was one that has been the most obvious glaring problem for a while now—no attacking gumption. Amine Harit having to bear the full weight of this attack. It’s not good for us, it’s not good for him—it’s not good for anyone.

A lot of hope is being placed in a potentially successful transfer window to bolster the attack around Amine Harit, but the better (and more plausible) option may well be to wait and let what Die Knappen already have fill in the missing pieces.

We need a striker right? Ahmed Kutucu is a movement striker who has tremendous speed and composure. Get him out there and Harit could find the finisher he’s been longing to have in front of him.

Amine Harit’s Schalke posse is coming soon

How about support alongside? Rabbi Matondo is primed for a breakout, he’s also got that speed and dribbling ability to make serious inroads into this attack if he’s given the opportunity.

Then there’s competition for Harit as well. Nick Taitague has just signed a new deal and figures to challenge for playing time as soon as he can stay healthy. As one of the most highly touted players to come out of America in quite some time, the talent is there, if only the body would cooperate.

Then there’s the blossoming duo of Nassim Boujellab and Levent Mercan, both of whom have a nice goal record from the youth outfits, both of whom have a creative punch to their midfield capabilities and can play in both central midfield and attacking midfield capabilities.

David Wagner had the right idea against Dortmund, starting Daniel Caligiuri next to Harit, rather than Harit isolated as the sole playmaker. We just didn’t have the foundation around Harit to make it work. But if Kutucu and Matondo pan out, and Harit has support from Suat Serdar and Boujellab or Mercan or Taitague—if even half of those guys pan out the way we’re expecting—then Harit won’t have to wait much longer to get what he so desperately needs.

While it probably won’t come this season, it can start to root itself in the club. Build this attack around Harit and let the rapport start to grow.